Press Release

PORTLAND, Maine — Cultivating Community, a Portland-based nonprofit that grows sustainable communities by expanding access to healthy food; by empowering people to participate in a restored local food system; and by modeling and advocating for ecological food production, announces the summer 2013 launch of seven urban farm stands in Portland and South Portland that will be open for business from July 1st through October 18th.

All are welcome to come and purchase fresh produce at any Cultivating Community farm stand, and to meet the local farmers who have grown their vegetables with organic practices. These mini farmers’ markets will accept cash, SNAP (food stamps), WIC benefits, and credit/debit cards, ensuring that all Portland residents, regardless of income or geographic location, are able to choose high-quality, Maine-grown produce to feed their families.

Tuesdays 3-6pm – West End – Reiche School Playground on Brackett Street

Wednesdays 2-5pm – Bayside – Boyd Street Urban Farm in Kennedy Park

Thursdays 3-6pm – Riverton – Riverton School at side entrance, next to parking lot

Thursdays 3-6pm – South Portland – The Hub on Westbrook Street in Red Bank Village

Farm stands will feature special event cooking demonstrations, food tastings, and music, and thanks to a grant from Wholesome Wave Foundation, shoppers using SNAP or WIC at Cultivating Community farm stands will also receive a 50% discount on all vegetables, at every market and on each day (while supplies last).

The farm stands are part of Cultivating Community’s “Growing Access, Growing Communities” initiative, which aims to strengthen communities by building a strong local food system, by reducing the barriers to healthy food access, and by treating producers and consumers with dignity.

Growing Access producers are immigrant and refugee farmers participating in the New American Sustainable Agriculture Project (NASAP). NASAP provides recent arrivals (many of whom come from agricultural backgrounds) with the resources and support to apply their skills and build successful farming businesses in Maine.

Our farm stands are designed to offer more convenient, affordable options for Portland residents to access fresh, sustainably grown produce in their neighborhoods, while giving New American farmers the opportunity to market their produce to a wider customer base.

For additional information, please contact Cultivating Community at 207-761-GROW or visit www.cultivatingcommunity.org.